PHILADELPHIA – Josh Hart has done it.
The team’s sand and glue guy was left wide open on the perimeter and for the Knicks’ biggest shot of the night.
He hesitated for a moment after Jalen Brunson’s pass, then buried the go-ahead 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to shut out the 76ers in Thursday’s 118-115 Game 6 victory at Wells Fargo Center.
decisive series victory against the 76ers in game 6. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
New York’s next opponent in the second round is the sixth-seeded Pacers, who eliminated the No. 3 Bucks in six games.
They trade one Tyrese (Maxey) for another (Haliburton).
The first match will take place Monday at MSG.
The close and hard-fought Knicks-Sixers series deservedly went down to the final seconds, with the game tied before Hart’s clutch three.
Up three, the Knicks still had to make their free throws — and Nova’s other duo, Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo, knocked down four straight in the final 11 seconds.
Two days after the point guard failed to come through in critical moments, Brunson was great when it mattered most.
He finished with 41 points, carrying the Knicks in the final 6:30.
He also received help from DiVincenzo, who not only played excellent defense against Maxey, but also had his best shooting game of the series by scoring 23 points.
OG Anunoby was also efficient, scoring 19 points – including a steal and a dunk late in the fourth.
For a few tense moments, however, it appeared the Knicks might collapse again.
during the third quarter of the Knicks victory. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
They led by eight with 2:20 remaining, when Kelly Oubre started a 10-2 Sixers run with a 3-pointer.
Tyrese Maxey’s and-one layup then tied the game with 35 seconds remaining.
It constituted the biggest blow of Hart’s professional career.
Much of the pregame discussion focused on the dynamic of the decidedly pro-Knicks crowd at the end of Game 4 at the Wells Fargo Center.
of the Knicks’ decisive series victory. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
As a counter, Sixers owners purchased 2,000 tickets to give away to Philadelphians while blocking Knicks fans.
Whether it was the tickets, the campaign or the shame of letting their building be overrun by opposing fans, it seemed to work.
Just before tipoff, the fans broke out in a wholesome “F–- the Knicks” chant. Then they drowned out attempts at “MVP” chants for Brunson.
But Brunson kept them from going crazy early, lifting the Knicks to a 33-11 lead in less than 10 minutes.
It wasn’t until the second quarter came back – which included a 27-8 Sixers run – that the dominant number of Sixers fans became visible.
They were excited and overwhelming as Philly took the lead into halftime, riding its reigning MVP.
The Knicks, meanwhile, entered the night trying to forget their Game 5 collapse.
“When you get the opportunity to do (complete a series), you have to take advantage of it. Obviously we didn’t do that (in Game 5),” Brunson said before the game. “But for us it’s about how can you respond in this situation tonight?
“You may be upset, you may be angry, but what are you going to do to make sure that you are now ready for the next one? So you can’t sit there and just be upset about what happened. …You really need to do something and let it go.
The defensive game plan was simple and smart considering the events of the previous five games, especially game five.
Maxey was a headache throughout the series, a scoring machine that the Knicks were willing to accept if it meant they stopped Embiid. Not in game 6.
Tom Thibodeau’s first adjustment was to use DiVincenzo as his primary defender against Maxey.
It worked in the regular season, but the coach largely abandoned DiVincenzo in that role for the first five games, instead using Anunoby, Hart and Miles McBride over Maxey.
DiVincenzo was minding his own business.
He ran around Maxey, denying him the ball and space when possible.
The Knicks also committed to doubling and building a wall whenever Maxey had the ball, keeping him away from the rim.
That held Maxey to just 17 points on miserable 6-of-18 shooting, two nights after losing 46 and burying the Knicks at the Garden.
But Embiid took over, taking advantage of the lesser attention by scoring 39 points.
On Tuesday, the Knicks were about 25 seconds away from advancing to the second round. They knocked off the Sixers before starter Maxey Miracle/Knicks.
They made up for it in Philadelphia.
“We are resilient,” Brunson assured. “No matter what people outside say, positive or negative, we know what we have to do. We will stick together and it will not change with us. I love that this is how we think.
New York Post
